Boeing was cleared by U.S. regulators on Monday to start delivering the smallest version of its best-selling 737 Max jet, a significant achievement for a company that has struggled with safety and quality problems in recent years.
The approval, from the Federal Aviation Administration, comes after years of delays. The agency said in a statement that it had spent that time working “to resolve complex technical issues and complete a thorough review of the airplane’s design and supporting safety analyses.”
Certification of the plane, the Max 7, was delayed after two Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 killed 346 people. After those crashes, the F.A.A. grounded the Max for about 20 months. Then, in 2024, a poorly installed panel blew off a Max jet in flight, reviving concerns about the quality of Boeing’s planes.
To obtain approval for the Max 7, Boeing had to make changes to the plane’s flight control software, pilot alert system and an engine system that prevents ice accumulation and could, in some cases, cause part of the engine to overheat.
“This important certification validates the rigor of our airplane’s design and recognizes the determination and resilience of our 737 MAX development team,” Stephanie Pope, the chief executive of Boeing’s commercial plan unit, said in a statement.
The company said that the Max 7 test program began in 2018 and included more than 1,000 hours of testing. Boeing is preparing to deliver the first Max 7 to Southwest Airlines. The plane typically seats between 135 and 160 passengers. The Max 8, the most popular version of the plane, can seat as many as 180 passengers, while the Max 9 can seat up to 195.
Certification of the 210-passenger Max 10, the biggest version of the jet, has also been delayed, though the company said last month that it had made substantial progress. Another, larger plane, the 777-9, is also years behind schedule.
Approval for the Max 7 comes as Boeing’s turnaround has gained momentum. In the last two years, the company has appointed a new chief executive, revamped its procedures and expanded training and other quality-control practices. Boeing said it had seen a notable decline in production defects.
The F.A.A. said that safety inspectors would continue to monitor the work carried out at Boeing’s factories.
